Arthur wasted no time looking me up and down, and a devilish grin stretched at his mouth. “Well, well. Lookie here. You’ve been holding out on us, Scala.”

Anoushka also looked me up and down, but in a very different way. “Rumor was you killed her.” She mimed a rope being pulled tightly around her neck and made a choking sound.

Catalina clicked her tongue at the two of them then stood, walking towards us. She reached out and took my hands without asking then turned to Tor and said, “I knew he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Look at her.” She lifted one hand under my chin and held my face up, inspecting it. “My dear, you are lovely. Your father always talked of you. His softly-spoken little angel. Such a shame, you know.” She let me go quickly and lifted her nose when she said, “That sister of yours…” Cat wore an expression I understood all too well.

Sheer revulsion.

I hadn’t yet been able to get a single word out. Somewhere behind us, footsteps sounded and then another man wearing jeans, gleaming white sneakers and a loose white tee walked right by Tor. My husband greeted the man with a casual, “Striker.”

Striker responded by lifting his hand, making the sign of the devil, and walking over to his seat, falling into it heavily with a sigh.

Alright then.

Tor led me to the table. There was only one seat in front of us but there was no battle for the chair. Without a single thought, he helped me sit in the Malocchio seat then took his place behind me, resting his hands on the back of my chair in a claim of ownership.

“So,” The Brit I had concluded was Arthur of The Overcoat Army shot me a naughty look and uttered an oh-so-charmingly, “Is it true, pet?” One brow rose. “Did you really shoot the poor bastard? In a church, on your wedding day too?” I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off with, “I only ask because you don’t look capable of hurting a bloody fly.” Again, I tried to respond, but he was too quick for me. “The gun in the bouquet bit…” He made an intrepid sound and looked at me with newfound admiration. “Well played, darling. They’ll be talking about that one for years to come.”

Onus began to swarm in my lower belly.

I didn’t want them to talk about me for years to come. I wanted to live a quiet life with my loving husband and sweet stepchildren. I was tired of this game. So weary of the bloodshed.

All I wanted was peace.